The Supreme Court sitting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, on Friday, June 23, sacked the Senator Abubakar Danladi representing Taraba North in the Senate.
The apex court also asked the Taraba state lawmaker who is a member of the PDP to return all salaries he had collected before his sacking.
The development is coming after the the apex court also sacked member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Vandikya/ Konshisha constituency, Honourable Herman Hembe.
The Court had declared the seat of the lawmaker vacant and ruled that Mrs. Dorathy Mato who won the All Progressives Congress (APC) party ticket for the constituency is the rightful candidate. Similarly, the apex court also declared Alhaji Shuaibu Isa Lau, as the senator to represent the constituency.
The Supreme Court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate issued to Danladi and issue a fresh certificate of return to Lau.
The order was contained in the judgment of the court on the appeal filed by Lau also under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Lau had challenged the decision of the Court of Appeal that upturned his victory during the primary elections, alleging that he was wrongfully substituted.
The apex court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate issued to Danladi and issue a fresh certificate of return to Lau.
The supreme court in the unanimous judgment of a five-member panel held that the appellant had the right to participate just like any other candidate in the primary election.
The court added that if Lau felt that his right was infringed upon, he had the right to approach the court.
“From the totality of the appeal before this court, all the issues are resolved in favour of the appellant.
“His substitution at the primary election is null and void since the appellant scored the highest number of votes, the only option is to declare the appellant as the winner of primary election. “This court hereby orders that the appellant be issued with the certificate of return and the respondent should immediately vacate the seat.
“He should return to the National Assembly, all salaries and allowances received as a senator within 90 days.